’Freelygranted，’saidClennam，wavinghishandwithoutraisinghissunkenhead。’Saynomore。Iamnotworthit。’
　　’Thisfurniture，sir，’saidYoungJohninavoiceofmildandsoftexplanation，’belongstome。Iaminthehabitoflettingitouttopartieswithoutfurniture，thathavetheroom。Itan’tmuch，butit’satyourservice。Free，Imean。Icouldnotthinkoflettingyouhaveitonanyotherterms。You’rewelcometoitfornothing。’
　　Arthurraisedhisheadagaintothankhim，andtosayhecouldnotacceptthefavour。Johnwasstillturninghiswrist，andstillcontendingwithhimselfinhisformerdividedmanner。
　　’Whatisthematterbetweenus？’saidArthur。
　　’Ideclinetonameit，sir，’returnedYoungJohn，suddenlyturningloudandsharp。’Nothing’sthematter。’
　　Arthurlookedathimagain，invain，foranexplanationofhisbehaviour。Afterawhile，Arthurturnedawayhisheadagain。
　　YoungJohnsaid，presentlyafterwards，withtheutmostmildness：
　　’Thelittleroundtable，sir，that’snighyourelbow，was——youknowwhose——Ineedn’tmentionhim——hediedagreatgentleman。Iboughtitofanindividualthathegaveitto，andthatlivedhereafterhim。Buttheindividualwasn’tanywaysequaltohim。Mostindividualswouldfindithardtocomeuptohislevel。’
　　Arthurdrewthelittletablenearer，restedhisarmuponit，andkeptitthere。
　　’Perhapsyoumaynotbeaware，sir，’saidYoungJohn，’thatI
　　intrudeduponhimwhenhewasoverhereinLondon。OnthewholehewasofopinionthatitWASanintrusion，thoughhewassogoodastoaskmetositdownandtoinquireafterfatherandallotheroldfriends。Leastwayshumblestacquaintances。Helooked，tome，agooddealchanged，andIsaidsowhenIcameback。IaskedhimifMissAmywaswell——’
　　’Andshewas？’
　　’Ishouldhavethoughtyouwouldhaveknownwithoutputtingthequestiontosuchasme，’returnedYoungJohn，afterappearingtotakealargeinvisiblepill。’Sinceyoudoputmethequestion，I
　　amsorryIcan’tanswerit。Butthetruthis，helookedupontheinquiryasaliberty，andsaid，“Whatwasthattome？“ItwasthenIbecamequiteawareIwasintruding：ofwhichIhadbeenfearfulbefore。However，hespokeveryhandsomeafterwards；veryhandsome。’
　　Theywerebothsilentforseveralminutes：exceptthatYoungJohnremarked，ataboutthemiddleofthepause，’Hebothspokeandactedveryhandsome。’
　　ItwasagainYoungJohnwhobrokethesilencebyinquiring：
　　’Ifit’snotaliberty，howlongmayitbeyourintentions，sir，togowithouteatinganddrinking？’
　　’Ihavenotfeltthewantofanythingyet，’returnedClennam。’I
　　havenoappetitejustnow。’
　　’Themorereasonwhyyoushouldtakesomesupport，sir，’urgedYoungJohn。’Ifyoufindyourselfgoingonsittinghereforhoursandhourspartakingofnorefreshmentbecauseyouhavenoappetite，whythenyoushouldandmustpartakeofrefreshmentwithoutanappetite。I’mgoingtohaveteainmyownapartment。Ifit’snotaliberty，pleasetocomeandtakeacup。OrIcanbringatrayhereintwominutes。’
　　FeelingthatYoungJohnwouldimposethattroubleonhimselfifherefused，andalsofeelinganxioustoshowthatheboreinmindboththeelderMrChivery’sentreaty，andtheyoungerMrChivery’sapology，ArthurroseandexpressedhiswillingnesstotakeacupofteainMrjohn’sapartment。YoungJohnlockedhisdoorforhimastheywentout，slidedthekeyintohispocketwithgreatdexterity，andledthewaytohisownresidence。
　　Itwasatthetopofthehousenearesttothegateway。ItwastheroomtowhichClennamhadhurriedonthedaywhentheenrichedfamilyhadlefttheprisonforever，andwherehehadliftedherinsensiblefromthefloor。Heforesawwheretheyweregoingassoonastheirfeettouchedthestaircase。Theroomwassofarchangedthatitwaspaperednow，andhadbeenrepainted，andwasfarmorecomfortablyfurnished；buthecouldrecallitjustashehadseenitinthatsingleglance，whenheraisedherfromthegroundandcarriedherdowntothecarriage。
　　YoungJohnlookedhardathim，bitinghisfingers。
　　’Iseeyourecollecttheroom，MrClennam？’
　　’Irecollectitwell，Heavenblessher!’
　　Obliviousofthetea，YoungJohncontinuedtobitehisfingersandtolookathisvisitor，aslongashisvisitorcontinuedtoglanceabouttheroom。Finally，hemadeastartattheteapot，gustilyrattledaquantityofteaintoitfromacanister，andsetoffforthecommonkitchentofillitwithhotwater。
　　TheroomwassoeloquenttoClennaminthechangedcircumstancesofhisreturntothemiserableMarshalsea；itspoketohimsomournfullyofher，andofhislossofher；thatitwouldhavegonehardwithhimtoresistit，eventhoughhehadnotbeenalone。
　　Alone，hedidnottry。Hehadhishandontheinsensiblewallastenderlyasifithadbeenherselfthathetouched，andpronouncedhernameinalowvoice。Hestoodatthewindow，lookingovertheprison-parapetwithitsgrimspikedborder，andbreathedabenedictionthroughthesummerhazetowardsthedistantlandwhereshewasrichandprosperous。
　　YoungJohnwassometimeabsent，and，whenhecameback，showedthathehadbeenoutsidebybringingwithhimfreshbutterinacabbageleaf，somethinslicesofboiledhaminanothercabbageleaf，andalittlebasketofwater-cressesandsaladherbs。Whenthesewerearrangeduponthetabletohissatisfaction，theysatdowntotea。
　　Clennamtriedtodohonourtothemeal，butunavailingly。Thehamsickenedhim，thebreadseemedtoturntosandinhismouth。Hecouldforcenothinguponhimselfbutacupoftea。
　　’Tryalittlesomethinggreen，’saidYoungJohn，handinghimthebasket。
　　Hetookasprigorsoofwater-cress，andtriedagain；butthebreadturnedtoaheaviersandthanbefore，andthehamthoughitwasgoodenoughofitselfseemedtoblowafaintsimoomofhamthroughthewholeMarshalsea。
　　’Tryalittlemoresomethinggreen，sir，’saidYoungJohn；andagainhandedthebasket。
　　Itwassolikehandinggreenmeatintothecageofadullimprisonedbird，andJohnhadsoevidentlybroughtthelittlebasketasahandfuloffreshrelieffromthestalehotpaving-
　　stonesandbricksofthejail，thatClennamsaid，withasmile，’Itwasverykindofyoutothinkofputtingthisbetweenthewires；
　　butIcannotevengetthisdownto-day。’
　　Asifthedifficultywerecontagious，YoungJohnsoonpushedawayhisownplate，andfelltofoldingthecabbage-leafthathadcontainedtheham。Whenhehadfoldeditintoanumberoflayers，oneoveranother，sothatitwassmallinthepalmofhishand，hebegantoflattenitbetweenbothhishands，andtoeyeClennamattentively。
　　’Iwonder，’heatlengthsaid，compressinghisgreenpacketwithsomeforce，’thatifit’snotworthyourwhiletotakecareofyourselfforyourownsake，it’snotworthdoingforsomeoneelse’s。’
　　’Truly，’returnedArthur，withasighandasmile，’Idon’tknowforwhose。’
　　’MrClennam，’saidJohn，warmly，’Iamsurprisedthatagentlemanwhoiscapableofthestraightforwardnessthatyouarecapableof，shouldbecapableofthemeanactionofmakingmesuchananswer。
　　MrClennam，Iamsurprisedthatagentlemanwhoiscapableofhavingaheartofhisown，shouldbecapableoftheheartlessnessoftreatingmineinthatway。Iamastonishedatit，sir。ReallyandtrulyIamastonished!’
　　Havinggotuponhisfeettoemphasisehisconcludingwords，YoungJohnsatdownagain，andfelltorollinghisgreenpacketonhisrightleg；nevertakinghiseyesoffClennam，butsurveyinghimwithafixedlookofindignantreproach。
　　’Ihadgotoverit，sir，’saidJohn。’Ihadconqueredit，knowingthatitmustbeconquered，andhadcometotheresolutiontothinknomoreaboutit。Ishouldn’thavegivenmymindtoitagain，I
　　hope，iftothisprisonyouhadnotbeenbrought，andinanhourunfortunateforme，thisday!’InhisagitationYoungJohnadoptedhismother’spowerfulconstructionofsentences。’Whenyoufirstcameuponme，sir，intheLodge，thisday，moreasifaUpastreehadbeenmadeacaptureofthanaprivatedefendant，suchmingledstreamsoffeelingsbrokelooseagainwithinme，thateverythingwasforthefirstfewminutessweptawaybeforethem，andIwasgoingroundandroundinavortex。Igotoutofit。I
　　struggled，andgotoutofit。IfitwasthelastwordIhadtospeak，againstthatvortexwithmyutmostpowersIstrove，andoutofitIcame。IarguedthatifIhadbeenrude，apologieswasdue，andthoseapologieswithoutaquestionofdemeaning，Ididmake。
　　Andnow，whenI’vebeensowishfultoshowthatonethoughtisnexttobeingaholyonewithmeandgoesbeforeallothers——now，afterall，youdodgemewhenIeversogentlyhintatit，andthrowmebackuponmyself。For，donot，sir，’saidYoungJohn，’donotbesobaseastodenythatdodgeyoudo，andthrownmebackuponmyselfyouhave!’
　　Allamazement，Arthurgazedathimlikeonelost，onlysaying，’Whatisit？Whatdoyoumean，John？’But，John，beinginthatstateofmindinwhichnothingwouldseemtobemoreimpossibletoacertainclassofpeoplethanthegivingofananswer，wentaheadblindly。
　　’Ihadn’t，’Johndeclared，’no，Ihadn’t，andIneverhadtheaudaciousnesstothink，Iamsure，thatallwasanythingbutlost。
　　Ihadn’t，no，whyshouldIsayIhadn’tifIeverhad，anyhopethatitwaspossibletobesoblest，notafterthewordsthatpassed，notevenifbarriersinsurmountablehadnotbeenraised!
　　ButisthatareasonwhyIamtohavenomemory，whyIamtohavenothoughts，whyIamtohavenosacredspots，noranything？’
　　’Whatcanyoumean？’criedArthur。
　　’It’sallverywelltotrampleonit，sir，’Johnwenton，scouringaveryprairieofwildwords，’ifapersoncanmakeuphismindtobeguiltyoftheaction。It’sallverywelltotrampleonit，butit’sthere。Itmaybethatitcouldn’tbetrampleduponifitwasn’tthere。Butthatdoesn’tmakeitgentlemanly，thatdoesn’tmakeithonourable，thatdoesn’tjustifythrowingapersonbackuponhimselfafterhehasstruggledandstrivedoutofhimselflikeabutterfly。Theworldmaysneerataturnkey，buthe’saman——
　　whenheisn’tawoman，whichamongfemalecriminalshe’sexpectedtobe。’
　　Ridiculousastheincoherenceofhistalkwas，therewasyetatruthfulnessinYoungjohn’ssimple，sentimentalcharacter，andasenseofbeingwoundedinsomeverytenderrespect，expressedinhisburningfaceandintheagitationofhisvoiceandmanner，whichArthurmusthavebeencrueltodisregard。Heturnedhisthoughtsbacktothestarting-pointofthisunknowninjury；andinthemeantimeYoungJohn，havingrolledhisgreenpacketprettyround，cutitcarefullyintothreepieces，andlaiditonaplateasifitweresomeparticulardelicacy。
　　’Itseemstomejustpossible，’saidArthur，whenhehadretracedtheconversationtothewater-cressesandbackagain，’thatyouhavemadesomereferencetoMissDorrit。’
　　’Itisjustpossible，sir，’returnedJohnChivery。
　　’Idon’tunderstandit。IhopeImaynotbesounluckyastomakeyouthinkImeantooffendyouagain，forIneverhavemeanttooffendyouyet，whenIsayIdon’tunderstandit。’
　　’Sir，’saidYoungJohn，’willyouhavetheperfidytodenythatyouknowandlonghaveknownthatIfelttowardsMissDorrit，callitnotthepresumptionoflove，butadorationandsacrifice？’
　　’Indeed，John，IwillnothaveanyperfidyifIknowit；whyyoushouldsuspectmeofitIamatalosstothink。DidyoueverhearfromMrsChivery，yourmother，thatIwenttoseeheronce？’
　　’No，sir，’returnedJohn，shortly。’Neverheardofsuchathing。’
　　’ButIdid。Canyouimaginewhy？’
　　’No，sir，’returnedJohn，shortly。’Ican’timaginewhy。’
　　’Iwilltellyou。IwassolicitoustopromoteMissDorrit’shappiness；andifIcouldhavesupposedthatMissDorritreturnedyouraffection——’
　　PoorJohnChiveryturnedcrimsontothetipsofhisears。’MissDorritneverdid，sir。Iwishtobehonourableandtrue，sofarasinmyhumblewayIcan，andIwouldscorntopretendforamomentthatsheeverdid，orthatsheeverledmetobelieveshedid；no，noreventhatitwasevertobeexpectedinanycoolreasonthatshewouldorcould。Shewasfarabovemeinallrespectsatalltimes。Aslikewise，’addedJohn，’similarlywashergen-teelfamily。’
　　Hischivalrousfeelingtowardsallthatbelongedtohermadehimsoveryrespectable，inspiteofhissmallstatureandhisratherweaklegs，andhisveryweakhair，andhispoeticaltemperament，thataGoliathmighthavesatinhisplacedemandinglessconsiderationatArthur’shands。
　　’Youspeak，john，’hesaid，withcordialadmiration，’likeaMan。’
　　’Well，sir，’returnedJohn，brushinghishandacrosshiseyes，’thenIwishyou’ddothesame。’
　　Hewasquickwiththisunexpectedretort，anditagainmadeArthurregardhimwithawonderingexpressionofface。
　　’Leastways，’saidJohn，stretchinghishandacrossthetea-tray，’iftoostrongaremark，withdrawn!But，whynot，whynot？WhenIsaytoyou，MrClennam，takecareofyourselfforsomeoneelse’ssake，whynotbeopen，thoughaturnkey？WhydidIgetyoutheroomwhichIknewyou’dlikebest？WhydidIcarryupyourthings？
　　NotthatIfound’emheavy；Idon’tmention’emonthataccounts；
　　farfromit。WhyhaveIcultivatedyouinthemannerIhavedonesincethemorning？Onthegroundofyourownmerits？No。They’reverygreat，I’venodoubtatall；butnotonthegroundofthem。
　　Another’smeritshavehadtheirweight，andhavehadfarmoreweightwithMe。Thenwhynotspeakfree？’
　　’Unaffectedly，John，’saidClennam，’youaresogoodafellowandIhavesotruearespectforyourcharacter，thatifIhaveappearedtobelesssensiblethanIreallyamofthefactthatthekindservicesyouhaverenderedmeto-dayareattributabletomyhavingbeentrustedbyMissDorritasherfriend——Iconfessittobeafault，andIaskyourforgiveness。’
　　’Oh!whynot，’Johnrepeatedwithreturningscorn，’whynotspeakfree!’
　　’Ideclaretoyou，’returnedArthur，’thatIdonotunderstandyou。
　　Lookatme。ConsiderthetroubleIhavebeenin。IsitlikelythatIwouldwilfullyaddtomyotherself-reproaches，thatofbeingungratefulortreacheroustoyou。Idonotunderstandyou。’
　　john’sincredulousfaceslowlysoftenedintoafaceofdoubt。Herose，backedintothegarret-windowoftheroom，beckonedArthurtocomethere，andstoodlookingathimthoughtfully。
　　’MrClennam，doyoumeantosaythatyoudon’tknow？’
　　’What，John？’
　　’Lord，’saidYoungJohn，appealingwithagasptothespikesonthewall。’Hesays，What!’
　　Clennamlookedatthespikes，andlookedatJohn；andlookedatthespikes，andlookedatJohn。
　　’HesaysWhat!Andwhatismore，’exclaimedYoungJohn，surveyinghiminadolefulmaze，’heappearstomeanit!Doyouseethiswindow，sir？’
　　’OfcourseIseethiswindow。’
　　’Seethisroom？’
　　’Why，ofcourseIseethisroom。’
　　’Thatwallopposite，andthatyarddownbelow？Theyhaveallbeenwitnessesofit，fromdaytoday，fromnighttonight，fromweektoweek，frommonthtomonth。ForhowoftenhaveIseenMissDorritherewhenshehasnotseenme!’
　　’Witnessesofwhat？’saidClennam。
　　’OfMissDorrit’slove。’
　　’Forwhom？’
　　’You，’saidJohn。Andtouchedhimwiththebackofhishanduponthebreast，andbackedtohischair，andsatdownonitwithapaleface，holdingthearms，andshakinghisheadathim。
　　IfhehaddealtClennamaheavyblow，insteadoflayingthatlighttouchuponhim，itseffectcouldnothavebeentoshakehimmore。
　　Hestoodamazed；hiseyeslookingatJohn；hislipsparted，andseemingnowandthentoformtheword’Me!’withoututteringit；
　　hishandsdroppedathissides；hiswholeappearancethatofamanwhohasbeenawakenedfromsleep，andstupefiedbyintelligencebeyondhisfullcomprehension。
　　’Me!’heatlengthsaidaloud。